The American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) regretfully announced the death of former president Earlene Causey…
The American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) regretfully announced the death of former president Earlene Causey, who passed away on July 24 in Baytown, Texas. She served as ASTA`s president and CEO from 1992 to 1994. She is survived by her husband Bruce Maynor Causey Jr., son Bruce Earl Causey, daughter Missy Stout, granddaughter Lindsa Ellis Stout and grandson Alexander Braden Stout.
Earlene was ASTA`s first woman president, and as such, she will always hold a unique and extraordinary place in ASTA`s history. She worked her way up through her chapter to become one of ASTA`s great leaders and she was admired by so many throughout the industry worldwide. Earlene was an energetic and dynamic woman, whose heart and soul was in the travel community. We express our heartfelt condolences to Earlene`s family, said ASTA President and CEO Richard M. Copland, CTC.
Causey was the first woman to hold the title president and CEO of ASTA. She was the senior vice president from 1990 to1992. She served on the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA) Government Affairs Council Tax Working Group, initiated ASTA`s first Industry Tax Summit in January 1993. She was chair of ASTA`s Global Partnership Marketing Council and was president of the travel and tourism industry`s Rebuild Dubrovnik Fund.
Active on the legislative front, Causey was named a delegate to the first White House Conference on Travel and Tourism, which was held in 1995. She testified before the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Oversight in 1987 and 1988 regarding unrelated business income tax as it applies to tax-exempt organizations, and addressed the Postal Rate Commission on subsidized mail rates. In 1986, she was a delegate to the White House Conference on Small Business.
Causey joined ASTA in 1974 and was the first vice president and president of the Southwest Chapter. She was chair of the ASTA Council of Travel Marketing Organizations (ACTMO) and of ASTA`s 58th World Travel Congress in Budapest, Hungary in 1988. She was inducted into the TIA 1993 Travel Industry Hall of Leaders for her contributions to the industry. A graduate of East Central State College of Oklahoma and a former Navy officer, Causey was director of industry affairs for Supertravel in Baytown, Texas, where she lived with her husband Bruce.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on July 27 at Grace United Methodist Church, 304 N. Pruett in Baytown. Interment will follow at a later date in the Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. Visitation will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on July 26 at Navarre Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Literacy Program at Sterling Municipal Library, Doctors Without Borders, Second Harvest or the charity of your choice.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
